48 Hours backdrop
48 Hours poster
TV Series Confirmed 7.0

48 Hours

January 19, 1988 42m Judy Tygard 1172 eps
News Crime Documentary
7.0
56 votes
42m
Runtime
31
Popularity
Released 14176 days ago — January 19, 1988

About

This newsmagazine series investigates intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all aspects of the human experience. Over its long run, the show has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, driven the reopening — and resolution — of cold cases, and changed numerous lives. CBS News correspondents offer an in-depth look into each story, with the emphasis on solving the mystery at its heart.

Release Date
January 19, 1988
Status
Confirmed
Director
Judy Tygard
Platform / Region
CBS
Production
CBS / CBS News Productions
Language
English
Episodes
1172
Season
40 Seasons

Details

Age Rating
TV-14
TMDB Status
Returning Series
Countries
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Series Type
Documentary
In Production
Yes

Episodes

Latest episode: S40E5 Jade Benning's Final Call (2026-10-31)

  • Season 1: 29 episodes (1988-01-19)
  • Season 2: 61 episodes (1988-09-08)
  • Season 3: 1 episodes (1990-01-04)
  • Season 4: 1 episodes (1991-09-11)
  • Season 5: 1 episodes (1992-09-16)
  • Season 6: 1 episodes (1993-09-15)
  • Season 7: 1 episodes (1994-09-21)
  • Season 8: 1 episodes (1995-09-14)
  • Season 9: 30 episodes (1996-09-12)
  • Season 10: 52 episodes (1997-09-11)
  • Season 11: 16 episodes (1998-04-30)
  • Season 12: 53 episodes (1998-09-17)
  • Season 13: 43 episodes (1999-09-23)
  • Season 14: 42 episodes (2000-09-21)
  • Season 15: 45 episodes (2001-09-28)
  • Season 16: 43 episodes (2002-09-20)
  • Season 17: 35 episodes (2003-09-27)
  • Season 18: 30 episodes (2004-09-25)
  • Season 19: 30 episodes (2005-09-24)
  • Season 20: 29 episodes (2006-09-23)
  • Season 21: 27 episodes (2007-09-29)
  • Season 22: 26 episodes (2008-09-24)
  • Season 23: 26 episodes (2009-09-19)
  • Season 24: 27 episodes (2010-09-25)
  • Season 25: 27 episodes (2011-09-24)
  • Season 26: 27 episodes (2012-09-28)
  • Season 27: 34 episodes (2013-09-28)
  • Season 28: 68 episodes (2014-09-27)
  • Season 29: 38 episodes (2015-09-12)
  • Season 30: 33 episodes (2016-09-24)
  • Season 31: 32 episodes (2017-09-30)
  • Season 32: 30 episodes (2018-09-29)
  • Season 33: 33 episodes (2019-09-14)
  • Season 34: 37 episodes (2020-09-09)
  • Season 35: 31 episodes (2021-09-18)
  • Season 36: 31 episodes (2022-09-17)
  • Season 37: 33 episodes (2023-09-16)
  • Season 38: 33 episodes (2024-09-21)
  • Season 39: 30 episodes (2025-09-27)
  • Season 40: 5 episodes (2026-10-17)

Where to Watch

United States: Stream on Netflix, fuboTV, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads | Buy on Apple TV Store

Data by TMDB / JustWatch.

biting true crime disturbed angry magazine show complex suspicious anxious cautionary suspenseful callous informative

About This Release

Audiences looking for a long-running investigative television program can explore the true crime and documentary series 48 Hours, which officially premiered on Tuesday, January 19, 1988. Originally launched on the CBS network, the program is created by Judy Tygard and produced in the United States of America by CBS / CBS News Productions. Over the course of its extensive television run, this expansive TV Series has achieved a returning series status with a substantial library comprising 40 Seasons and 1172 total episodes, maintained in the English language.

The core premise of the news program centers around investigating intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all aspects of the human experience. Viewers tuning into 48 Hours will find that, over its long run, the show has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, driven the reopening and resolution of cold cases, and changed numerous lives. CBS News correspondents offer an in-depth look into each story, with the emphasis on solving the mystery at its heart, leaning heavily into a magazine show format.

Regarding technical specifications and production details, each episode features a standard runtime of 0h 42m (42 minutes). In the United States, the production carries an age rating (US) of TV-14, making parental guidance suggested for younger viewers due to its mature investigative themes. The show is associated with descriptive keywords such as biting, disturbed, angry, complex, suspicious, anxious, cautionary, suspenseful, and callous, reflecting the intense nature of its investigative journalism.

Audience reception for 48 Hours is measurable through its user feedback, holding a user rating of 7/10 from 56 votes (TMDB) alongside a popularity score of 31.1752. The program continues to expand its catalog, featuring a season list that spans decades, with the latest episode documented as season 40 episode 5 titled Jade Benning's Final Call on 2026-10-31. Because it is still in production, fans can expect ongoing updates to its extensive seasonal run.

For viewers in the United States wondering where to watch the documentary series, options are readily available across multiple platforms. Streaming access is provided via Netflix, fuboTV, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, and Netflix Standard with Ads, while digital purchases can be made through the Apple TV Store. Those who decide to follow the true crime release can expect an informative, suspenseful viewing experience driven by detailed investigative journalism into complex legal mysteries.

Gallery

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